“Ubuntu”: Once again, a meme appears on Facebook with a story about a researcher who conducted a kind of experiment with the hungry children of an African tribe with an astonishing outcome. We already covered this topic in 2016 .

Translated, the content means:
“A European explorer offered a game to hungry children of an African tribe. He placed a basket of sweet fruits on a tree and told them whoever got there first won all the fruit. When he gave them the signal to start, they took each other's hands, jawed together, then sat down together and enjoyed the treats. When he asked them why they all ran together when everyone had the chance to win the fruits for themselves, they said: "Ubuntu - How can one of us be happy when all the others are sad?" Ubuntu In their culture it means: “I am because we are”.
Where does this “Ubuntu” story come from?
The source of the story is not at all as unknown as the meme says. It was first told at a peace festival in Florianopolis/southern Brazil in 2006 by the journalist and philosopher Lia Diskin. She herself called the tribe “Ubuntu,” just like that philosophy, but did not mention the name of that researcher.

Since then, this story has been found in greater and lesser detail all over the internet, with claims on the one hand that it is about the Xhosa tribe (in South Africa), while other sources mention the Hausa tribe (in West Africa). However, the Hausa language is not a Bantu language, the word “Ubuntu” does not appear there at all, but it does exist in the Nguni language, which is spoken by the Xhosa and the Zulu.
Is the story true?
This can now be discussed. There is only one source for this story, and the tribe is not clear, the name of the researcher is also unknown, and when this is said to have happened. However, the story is strikingly reminiscent of another legend that circulated on the Internet in 2000. A few years earlier, during the Special Olympics in Seattle, where people with various disabilities compete, the following is said to have happened:
“And these people are what some call retarded...
A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine people, all with physical or mental disabilities, competed in a 100-meter dash.
After the starting signal, everyone tried more or less successfully to reach the finish line. A little boy who was running the race kept stumbling and ended up lying there crying. The other runners heard his cry and turned around. They all slowed down, finally stopping and walking towards the boy. A girl with Down syndrome leaned down, gave him a kiss and said, “This will make you feel better.” Then all the new people linked arms and crossed the finish line together. Everyone in the stadium stood up and cheered for the nine for minutes. Spectators who were there still tell the story today.”
By the way, this story is partly true.
According to the Special Olympics Washington Office, a similar incident occurred in 1976 during a sporting event in Spokane, Washington. One athlete stumbled, one or two stopped and crossed the finish line with him, but the other participants continued the race.
Conclusion
The story itself is beautiful, the African philosophy of Ubuntu exists. One can at least doubt whether the story is true, as it seems a little strange that a researcher would do such experiments with a strain to test their reaction. It is most likely that the journalist and philosopher Lia Diskin just wanted to explain African philosophy simply and graphically at that peace festival (which makes sense for a philosopher).
Whether the story is true or a fabrication is ultimately irrelevant. She explains a very nice philosophy. That's what ultimately matters.
If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:
📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.
Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!
* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

